AND  THE  CITIZENS  OF  ROGERSVILLE,  TENN., 


Oa  the  4lli  day  of  July,  1849, 

AT  THE  LAYING  THE  CORNER-STONE 

OF  THE 

ODD-FELLOWS’  FEMALE  INSTITUTE. 

BY  REV.  J.  D.  McCABE, 

OF  ABINGDON,  VA. 


ABINGDON : 

PRINTED  BY  COALE  AND  BARR. 


1849. 


•* 

* v ••  »•  * 


A'  V 

V *. 

•-  t.; 


Pamphlet  Collection 
Duke  University  Library 


THE  FLOWERS  COLLECJ1Q. 


Hall  Hawkins  Lodge,  No.  41,  I.  0.  0.  F.,  \ 
Rogersville,  12th  July,  1S49.  ^ 

Re  v.  Dr.  McCabe: 

Dear  Sir  and  Brother — The  undersigned  Committee,  ap- 
pointed by  Hawkins  Lodge,  No.  41,  tor  the  purpose  of  solicit- 
ing for  publication  the  able  and  eloquent  Address  delivered  by 
you  before  them,  and  a large  number  of  the  Brotherhood,  on 
the  4th  instant,  in  this  place,  take  pleasure  in  testifying  lo  the 
general  satisfaction  manifested  by  all  who  were  present  on  that 
occasion,  and  trust  that  you  will,  at  your  earliest  con  venience, 
furnish  us  with  the  manuscript  of  the  same. 

With  high  considerations,  we  remain 

Fraternally  Yours, 

JAMES  K.  SIMPSON,  ) 

ROBERT  H.  HALE,  > Committee 
EDW.  J.  ASTON,  ) 


Abingdon,  July  14th,  1849. 

My  Dear  Brethren:  Your  very  flaftering  communication  of 
the  12th  inst.  came  to  hand  by  this  morning’s  mail,  and  in  re- 
ply to  the  wishes  of  my  brethren,  I can  only  say,  that  if  they 
consider  the  thoughts  hastily  thrown  together  in  the  address  I 
had  the  honor  to  deliver  before  them  on  the  4th  inst.  worth 
the  preservation  they  propose,  the  MS.  is  at  their  disposal,  to 
receive  such  direction  as  they  may  be  pleased  to  give  it. 

Very  truly  yours,  in  F.  L.  & T., 

JAS.  D.  McCABE. 

Jas.  K.  Simpson,  ) 

Robt.  H.  Hale,  > Committee. 

Edw.  J.  Aston,  ) 


INTRODUCTION. 


The  4th  day  of  July  having  been  selected  as  the  occasion  for 
laying  the  corner-stone  of  the  ODD-FELLOWS’  FEMALE 
INSTITUTE,  under  the  control  and  patronage  of  Hawkins 
Lodge,  No.  41,  I.  0.  O.  F.,  the  brethren  assembled  at  their 
Hall  on  the  morning  of  that  day  at  10  o’clock,  and  proceeded 
in  procession  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  where  the  ser- 
vices were  opened  with  prayer  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Sawyer,  an 
ode  was  sung  by  the  brethren,  and  the  following  Address  de- 
livered by  Rev.  Dr.  McCabe,  Rector  of  St.  Thomas’  Church, 
Abingdon,  Va.  The  Fraternity,  after  the  exercises  at  the 
Church,  proceededto  thefoundation  of  the  contemplated  build- 
ing, where,  after  order  had  been  restored,  prayer  was  offered 
by  the  Chaplain  of  the  Lodge,  Rev.  Bro.  Sawyer;  after  which, 
the  Chairman  of  the  Building  Committee  presented  to  D D.  G. 
M.  Barnes'*  the  plan  of  the  building,  requesting  him,  in  the 
name  of  the  Trustees,,  to  lay  its  first  stone.  To  this  address  the 
D.  D.  G.  M.  responded,  and  the  stone  was  laid  in  its  place  to 
solemn  music.  The  D.  D.  G.  M.  then  deposited  in  the  stone 
a copy  of  the  Digest  G.  L.  U.  S.,  Constitution  and  Gen’l  Laws 
G.  L.  ofTenn.,  By-Laws  of  Hawkins  Lodge,  a copy  of  the 
Holy  Bible,  several  gold  and  silver  coinsof  the  coinage  of  1849, 
also  a parchment  scroll  containing  an  account  of  the  origin  and 
purpose  of  the  building,  name  of  Lodge  founding  the  Institu- 
tion. officers  of  the  G.  L.  U.  S.  and  State  ofTenn.,  President 
and  Vice  President  of  the  U.  S.,  Governor  of  Tennessee,  and 
architects  of  the  building.  The  whole  was  hermetrically  seal- 
ed up  in  a tin  case,  and  placed  in  a chamber  cut  in  the  stone, 
over  which  a slab  of  marble  was  placed,,  secured  with  cement. 
A large  s$one  was  placed  over  the  whole,  laid  in  hydraulic  ce- 
ment. Rev.  Bro.  Good,  of  St.  James’  Church,  Greeneville,  T., 
offered  up  a dedicatory  prayer;  after  which  the  bretheren  ad- 
vanced and  cast  flowers  on  the  stone — the  D.  D.  G-  Master 
proclaiming  the  first  stone  of  “THE  ODD-FELLOWS’  FE- 
MALE INSTITUTE”  well  and- truly  laid. 

The  procession  was  re-formed  and  proceeded  to  the  Court- 
House,  where  they  partook  of  a splendid  and  sumptuous  din- 
ner, prepared  by  the  ladies  of  Rogersville  and  vicinity,  after 
which  they  marched  to  the  Hall  and  were  dismissed.  .Mem- 
bers were  in  attendance  from  various  neighboring  Lodges.  It 
was  “a  great  and  glorious  day.” 


* At  the  request  of  D.  D.  G.  M.  Barnes,  Rev.  Dr.  McCabe  performed  these- 
duties,  the  forms  for  laying  the  corner-stone  having  been  prepared  by  him.. 


ADDRESS. 


From  the  brilliant  assembly  now  before  me— from  the  scenes 
and  circumstances  of  the  present  hour,  while  the  heaving  heart 
of  a great  nation  is  glowing  with  patriotism,  and  millions  of 
freemen  are  gratefully  bowing  in  adoration  at  the  altar  of  free- 
dom’s God — from  the  busy,  joyous  present,  memory  wanders 
back  to  the  days  of  other  years,— days  when  our  fathers,  who 
won  this  broad  land  from  the  wilderness,  demanded,  in  the  free 
spirit  of  their  Anglo-Saxon  lineage,  the  rights  secured  to  every 
Englishman  by  the  British  Constitution,  and  which  were  bv  a 
corrupt  ministry  denied  to  them, — days  when  the  hope  of  Run- 
nymede , the  great  principles  of  the  “ petition  of  rights ,”  were 
wrought  out  amid  “the  sound  of  trumpets  and  garments  rolled 
in  blood,”  tokening  strife  between  the  oppressor  and  the 
oppressed. 

In  Carpenter’s  Hall,  in  the  city  of  Philadelphia,  56  patriot 
sages  are  assembled.  Upon  their  deliberations  is  suspended 
the  weal  or  woe  of  3,000,000  of  freemen.  The  eyes  of  thirteen 
anxious  colonies  are  directed  towards  them — the  hoary  des- 
potisms of  the  old  world,  startled  out  of  their  dream  of  power 
and  sense  of  propriety,  are  looking  with  trembling  anxiety  to 
their  doings.  The  Cavalier  and  the  Roundhead , the  Church- 
man and  the  Puritan , sit  together  in  council  as  brothers. — 
A Churchman  from  Virginia  had  moved  a declaration  of  inde- 
pendence of  the  mother  country — a Puritan  from  Massachu- 
setts had  seconded  that  motion.  A committee  had  been  ap- 
pointed to  prepare  that  document,  setting  forth  the  grievances 
of  the  colonies.  The  morning  of  the  4th  day  of  July,  1776, 
has  dawned  upon  the  world,  and  the  result  of  that  committee’s 
labors  is  before  the  Continental  Congress.  The  deed  is  done! 
— the  problem,  that  man  is  capable  of  self-government,  is  an- 
nounced, and  appealing  to  God  for  the  rectitude  of  their  inten- 
tions, and  with  a firm  reliance  upon  his  divine  providence, 
they  declared  the  thirteen  colonies  absolved  from  all  allegi- 
ance to  the  British  Crown,  and  that  they  were,  and  of  right 
ought  to  be,  free  and  independent  States.  With  a sublime 
heroism,  “above  all  Greek,  all  Roman  fame,”  they,  in  support 
of  this  declaration,  pledged  to  each  other  “their  lives,  their 
fortunes , and  their  sacred  honor.”  Has  this  pledge  been  re- 
deemed? Go  ask  the  storied  fields  of  battle  and  of  blood,  from 
Lexington  to  Yorktown — fields  classic  in  our  country’s  annals 
— go  ask  the  glorious  land  in  which  we  live — “a  land  of  tower- 
ing mountains,  bold  hills  and  fertile  valleys,  of  £rock  and  tree 


G 


and  flowing  water,’  unsurpassed  in  the  beauty  of  its  scenery, 
with  shifting  wood,  calm  broad  lakes,  pinnacles  torn  and 
thunder-splintered,  and  cataracts  clothed  in  rainbow  and  in 
foam,”  forming  a vast  temple  of  freedom,  where  inspiration 
gives  life  to  intellect  and  letters, — where  art  speaks  in  the 
canvass  and  the  marble , and  spells  enwrap  the  poet,  and  awake 
his  harp  to  notes  of  more  thrilling  melody  than  ever  fell  from 
the  trembling  strings  of  the  Lisbian  lyre.  Go  ask  our  eagles 
as  they  “scream  southward  from  crag  to  crag,”  “from  the  great 
lakes  to  the  sunny  waters  of  the  heaving  gulf” — from  the  blue 
waters  of  the  Chesapeake  to  the  bay  of  San  Francisco — from 
the  island  of  Nantucket,  where  the  morning’s  sun  first  gilds 
the  land  of  freedom,  to  where  “the  purple  day”  fades  over  the 
tired  emigrant  of  Oregon — over  all  this  vast  area  of  3,000,000 
of  square  miles,  the  proud  armorial  bird  of  our  country  looks 
down  with  triumph  on  “the  land  of  the  free  and  the  home  of 
the  brave,”  and  over  all  floats  the  star-spangled  banner,  in 
evidence  of  the  redemption  of  the  solemn  pledge  made  by  our 
patriot  sires  on  the  4th  day  of  July,  177G. 

But  a change  comes  over  the  vision  of  memory.  Fifty  years 
have  passed  away  since  the  eventful  day  of  ’76.  No  longer 
colonies  dependent  upon  a mother-land,  our  country  has  taken 
rank  with  the  foremost  nations  of  the  earth.  The  burning 
words  spoken  in  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  have  moved 
upon  the  great  deep  of  European  feudalism,  and  as  a “city 
set  upon  a hill,”  young  America  has  become  a beacon  to  the 
world.  Fifty  years  have  rolled  away,  and  the  anniversary  of 
Freedom’s  birth-day  again  dawns  upon  her  favored  land.  But 
there  is  a cloud  in  the  sky — there  is  wailing  in  the  land — the 
dark  shadow  of  the  cypress  mingles  with  the  myrtle.  The 
eves  of  a mighty  nation  are  turned  in  sadness  to  Virginia — to 
Massachusetts.  St.  Thomas  of  the  mountains,  the  venerable 
Sage  of  Quincy — both  members  of  “Me  immortal  committee ,” 
the  one  the  author  of  the  Declaration  of  Independence,  the 
other  its  most  fearless,  noblest  advocate — are  upon  the  couch 
of  death.  The  dark  angel  has  come  and  called  for  them.  Ob, 
it  is  a scene  of  surpassing  beauty  to  see  these  glorious  old  men, 
who  first  looked  out  upon  life  from  their  ancestral  halls,  as  the 
subjects  of  a mighty  earthly  prince,  now  in  good  old  age  de- 
parting to  their  reward,  after  having  been  the  rulers  of  a gieat 
and  free  people,  the  first  citizens  of  the  mightiest  Republic  on 
earth.  The  noon-day’s  sun  poured  his  effulgent  beams  around 
the  departing  spirit  of  the  one — the  soft  and  tranquil  zephyr 
of  the  evening  fans  to  sleep  the  spirit  of  the  other.  But  hark! 
There  comes  to  the  ear  of  one  of  these  dying  sages  a sound  of 
revelry  and  music,  that  arrests  the  parting  spirit  in  its  flight, 
and  causes  it  to  linger  awhile  in  the  flesh.  It  is  the  deep 
booming  of  artillery,  mingled  with  the  pealing  note  of  the 


7 


trumpet.  It  breaks  up  the  lethargy  of  the  dying  man.  Startled, 
he  asks,  what  means  that  sound?  He  is  answered — -it  is  the 
4th  day  of  July.  His  eye  kindles  with  the  fire  of  other  days^ 
Memory  carries  him  back  to  that  dark  hour  when  he  stood 
with  the  immortal  band  in  Carpenter’s  Hall,  and  spoke  words 
that  thrilled  the  deep  heart  of  the  colonies,  like  “the  cry  of 
the  free  eagle  to  his  chained  and  fettered  mate.”  There  is  joy 
in  his  heart — there  is  triumph  in  his  eye.  It  is  enough!  Like 
old  Simeon  he  can  say,  “Now  Lord  lettest  thou  thy  servant 
depart  in  peace.”  He  raised  himself  up — his  hand  was  lifted 
as  though  he  would  join  in  the  shout  that  hailed  the  jubilee  of 
Freedom — but  the  time  of  his  departure  had  come.  An  an- 
gel’s hand  gently  loosed  “the  silver  cord,”  and  falling  back, 
lie  exclaimed — “ This  is  a greed  and  glorious  day.'’'’ 

Seventy-three  years  have  passed.  Again  “that  great  and 
glorious  day”  dawns  upon  our  land.  Again  the  great  politi- 
cal sabbath  calls  us  to  the  consecrated  altars — to  the  worship  of 
the  temple  from  which  are  proclaimed  to  the  world  liberty  and 
equality,  secured  by  law  and  order. 

My  brethren  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fellows,  Fel- 
low-Citizens of  East  Tennessee:  This  is  indeed  a great  and 

glorious  day,  and  the  purpose  for  which  we  are  here  assembled 
is  one  which  will  still  farther  illustrate  its  greatness  and  its 
glory.  This  national  festival  has  been  very  properly  selected 
as  an  occasion  to  illustrate  the  expansive  benevolence  and 
pure  patriotism  of  Odd-Fellowship,  by  the  foundation  of  an  in- 
stitution of  learning,  giving  evidence  of  the  tendencies  of  the 
Order  to  promote  and  conserve  the  useful,  the  good  and  the 
true. 

The  deed  that  is  now  doing,  will  outlive  the  excitements  of 
the  present — when  the  acts  of  to-day  shall  have  become  the 
history  of  the  past — when  the  cap-stone  of  the  edifice,  the  foun- 
dation stone  of  which  you  are  now  assembled  to  lay,  shall  be 
covered  with  the  moss  of  years,  your  children’s  children  will 
look  upon  its  time-marked  walls,  and  remembering  the  doings 
of  this  day,  will  proudly  say,  “My  father  helped  to  rear  this 
noble  pile.”  Hawkins  Lodge  of  I.  0.  0.  F.,  as  an  agent  in 
the  diffusion  of  light  and  sound  education,  will  then  be  “ green 
in  the  memory'1'1  of  the  noble  matrons  and  maidens  of  East 
Tennessee.  Time  is  the  impartial  tryer  of  man’s  work;  he  may 
cast  down  the  column  of  the  warrior,  and  overturn  the  shrines 
of  idolatry  and  false  religions,  but  he  dare  not  lay  his  hand  up- 
on the  monuments  of  virtue,  or  remove  one  stone  of  the  tem- 
ple we  dedicate  to  the  glory  of  God  and  the  good  of  man. 

This  day  is  the  symbol  of  great  and  enduring  principles.  Its 
annual  recurrence  serves  to  remind  us  that  upon  the  citizens  of 
this  great  Republic,  devolves,  in  an  eminent  degree,  the  re- 
sponsibility of  working  out  man’s  highest  religious,  social  and 


8 


political  destiny.  It  becomes  us,  therefore,  seriously  to  inquire 
into  the  means  by  which  the  blessings  bequeathed  us  by  dur 
fathers,  can  be  best  secured  from  falling  into  that  abyss  of  li- 
centiousness into  which  all  the  nations  of  antiquity  were  preci- 
pitated and  perished. 

We  have  extent  of  territory — the  elements  of  strength  and 
prosperity.  A civil  constitution,  which,  “with  all  its  pretend- 
ed defects  and  alleged  violations,”  has  conferred  more  bene- 
fit upon  mankind,  than  any  other  instrument  ever  conceived 
by  the  skill  of  the  human  intellect.  A merciful  God  has  pour- 
ed down  upon  us,  in  one  continued  stream,  the  richest  bless- 
ings ever  bestowed  upon  any  people.  The  great  question  for 
us  to  determine  is,  how  shall  these  blessings  be  preserved,  and 
in  all  their  integrity  transmitted  to  those  who  are  to  come  af- 
ter us?  It  is  important  that  this  question  should  be  practically 
determined — we  may  have  long  held  the  true  theory  upon  this 
subject — the  time  has  come  for  us  to  act,  if  we  would  save  our 
country  from  the  bloody  tomb  of  all  former  Republics. 

That  there  is  danger  to  our  wide-spread  and  glorious  con- 
federacy of  States,  is  apparent  to  even  the  most  superficial  ob- 
server of  the  signs  of  the  times.  It  is  a truth,  sadly  attested 
by  history,  that  Republics  never  tend  to  despotism,  till  licen- 
tiousness and  anarchy  have  built  their  tombs,  and  lawless  in- 
dividuality, spurning  law  and  order,  has  chaunted  their  requi- 
em. Despotism  is  the  shelter  into  which  unquiet  spirits  have 
run  for  protection  against  the  madness  and  fury  of  a wild  and 
unlicensed  liberty. 

It  was  not  despotism  that  demanded  the  blood  of  Phocion — 
it  was  not  despotism  that  ostracised  Aristides — it  was  not  des- 
potism that  first  bowed  to  Caesar,  amid  the  dishonored  shrines 
of  Roman  freedom — it  was  not  despotism  that  crushed  the  hopes 
of  right-minded  Frenchmen  in  the  first  revolution — that  con- 
ducted Louis  to  the  scaffold — sent  the  virtuous  LaFayette  into 
exile — and  from  the  shreds  of  French  Democracy  manufactur- 
ed imperial  robes  to  adorn  the  person  of  the  First  Consul.  It 
is  not  despotism  which  is  even  now  convulsing  Europe  with 
the  earthquake  throes  of  aimless  revolutions,  giving  birth  to 
the  red  Republican,  the  Communists  and  Socialist  factions  of 
Paris,  and  giving  over  the  destinies  of  the  seven-hilled  city 
into  the  hands  of  a brutal  and  licentious  mob.  No  ! it  was,  it 
is,  the  demon  of  anarchy — the  unbridled  fury  of  unlicensed  li- 
berty, that,  overleaping  the  barriers  of  reason,  disappoints  all 
the  rational  hopes  of  freedom,  and  eompells  the  masses  to  fly 
to  despotism , to  chains  and  fetters,  rather  than  endure  the  great- 
er tyranny  of  its  licentiousness. 

Do  we  not  see  the  beginning  of  these  things  in  our  own 
country?  Who  that  has  watched  the  course  of  affairs  in  the 
Federal  City  during  the  past  12  months,  together  with  the 


9 


movements  of  the  newspaper  press  in  various  parts  of  otir  coilrU 
try,  but  has  felt  that  we  have  fallen  upon  evil  days — that  a 
tempest  is  brewing,  which,  if  not  arrested,  will  burst  with  de- 
solating fury  upon  our  country.  Disunion,  a word  unknown 
in  the  vocabulary  of  American  freedom,  has  been  bandied  from 
North  to  South.  The  very  walls  of  our  National  Senate-house 
have  echoed  to  the  tones  of  treason.  The  voice  of  Washing- 
ton, “bidding  his  countrymen  frown  indignantly  on  the  first 
dawning  of  an  attempt  to  alienate  one  portion  of  the  country 
from  the  other,  or  to  sever  the  political  bands  which  connect 
its  various  parts,”  was  unheard  arnid  the  strife  of  selfish  Ihte- 
rests,  and  excited  sectional  passions  ! 

The  North  ! the  South  ! are  they  not  brothers — children  of 
the  same  family — reared  around  the  same  great  political  hearth- 
stone— joint  heirs  to  the  same  great  inheritance?  Shall  the 
mere  sectional  fanatic,  be  he  from  the  North  or  the  South , pro- 
duce discord  in  this  family,  and  attempt,  for  unhallowed  ends, 
to  parcel  out  this  inheritance?  No  ! it  cannot  be  done.  Ere 
a fair  division  can  be  made,  the  bones  of  every  battle-field,  the 
sweat  and  blood  of  every  toilsome  march,  must  be  gathered  up, 
and  the  South  and  the  North  must  each  have  its  own,  as  they 
lie  strewed  over  the  country,  from  Lexington  and  Bunker  Hill 
to  Camden,  Guilford  and  Yorktown.  And  even  then,  who  shall 
claim  the  ashes  that  sleep  in  the  hallowed  shades  of  Mount1 
Vernon.  Washington  was  Virginia’s  son,  but  she  gave  him 
to  the  country — he  belongs  not  to  the  North , nor  to  the  South — 
he  was  “the  boon  of  Providence ” to  the  world.  My  countrymen, 
shall  this  glorious  Union  be  dissolved  at  the  bidding  of  selfish, 
ambitious  and  fanatical  politicians?  No  ! I hear  repeated,  in 
indignant  tones,  Tennessee  has  contributed  too  much  of  the 
blood  that  beats  in  the  veins  of  her  brave  sons  to  cement  the 
union  of  these  Slates,  to  witness  so  foul  a deed.  Let  us,  then, 
lay  our  hands  upon  the  altar  of  our  common  country,  and  on 
this  holy  day,  and  in  the  spirit  of  one  of  your  noblest  sons, 
proclaim  that  the  Constitution — “ the  Union — it  must,  it  shall 
be  preserved .” 

But  the  question  recurs — How  shall  this  be  done?  The  elec- 
tive, representative,  and  federative  principles  of  our  political 
institutions,  while  founded  in  the  spirit  of  wisdom,  and  secur- 
ing the  most  unbounded  blessings — while  guided  by  intelli- 
gence, and  while  affording  security  and  protection — yet  rest 
for  their  authority  upon  the  simplest  of  all  propositions,  that 
all  men  are  equal,  and  entitled  to  equal  political  rights— a truth 
which  converts  eveiy  citizen  into  a sovereign — compells  him, 
by  a kind  of  moral  necessity,  to  express  an  opinion  upon  all 
questions  of  State  and  National  concern,  and,  as  .far  as  his  in- 
dividual  influence  goes,  to  control  the  action  of  Government. 
To  enable  each  individual  to  form  his  opinions  to  discharge 


10 


Ibis  duty  properly,  requires  no  small  share  of  intelligence  and 
virtue.  The  masses,  if  ignorant  and  vicious,  soon  become,  un- 
der the  guidance  of  unprincipled  demagogues,  the  slaves  of 
prejudice  and  passion — the  ready  instruments  of  “murder,  trea- 
son, stratagem  and  spoils” — and  thus  disappoint  the  hopes  of 
rational  freedom,  and  cause  our  proud  armorial  bird  “to  falter 
in  his  towering  flight,” — “his  shield  will  be  dashed  to  atoms, 
and  every  arrow  in  his  talons  will  be  broken,”  while  from  his 
riven  bosom  will  gush  forth  the  blood-drops  of  the  heart,  to  ex- 
tinguish the  last  fires  that  will  ever  be  lighted  on  the  altars  of 
Liberty. 

The  people  must  be  educated — the  seeds  of  virtue  and  intel- 
ligence must  be  scattered  broadcast  over  the  country — 'the  com- 
mon school  must  be  erected  in  every  neighborhood.  It  is  to 
these  that  the  lovers  of  constitutional  freedom — the  friends  of 
law  and  order — must  look  for  the  protection  and  perpetuation 
of  our  free  ins’itutions.  So  entirely  and  profoundly  were  the 
fathers  of  our  country  impressed  with  this  truth,  that  in  their 
communications  to  Congress,  they  urged  it  as  of  the  first  im- 
portance. 

That  illustrious  citizen,  whose  name  will  be  the  watchword 
of  elevated  patriotism  through  all  time,  and  whose  fame,  like 
the  unwasting  fire  of  the  vestal’s  altar,  shall  burn  with  undirn- 
rned  beauty, 

“When  wrapped  in  flames  the  realms  of  ether  glow. 

And  Heaven’s  last  thunder  shakes  the  world  below,’’ 

in  his  first  message  to  Congress  thus  speaks: 

“There  is  nothing  which  can  better  deserve  your  patronage, 
than  the  promotion  of  Science  and  Literature.  Knowledge  is, 
in  every  country,  the  surest  basis  of  public  happiness.  In  one 
in  which  the  measures  of  the  Government  receive  their  im- 
pressions so  immediately  from  the  sense  of  the  community  as 
in  ours,  it  is  proportionally  essential.  To  the  security  of  a free 
Constitution,  it  contributes,  in  various  ways,  by  convincing 
those  entrusted  with  the  public  administration,  that  every  va- 
luable end  of  Government  is  best  answered  by  the  enlighten- 
ed confidence  of  the  people; — by  teaching  the  people  them- 
selves to  know  and  valuetheir  own  rights, to  discern  and  provide 
against  invasions  of  them.  To  distinguish  between  oppression 
and  the  necessary  exercise  of  lawful  authority — between  bur- 
dens proceeding  from  a regard  to  their  convenience,  and  those 
resulting  from  the  inevitable  exigencies  of  society — to  discri- 
minate the  spirit  of  liberty  from  that  of  licentiousness — che- 
rishing the  first  and  avoiding  the  last,  and  uniting  a speedy 
but  temperate  vigilance  of  encroachment,  with  an  inviolable 
respect  for  the  laws.”  In  his  farewell  address  to  his  eountry- 
jnen,  he  again  declares  that  “Institutions  for  the  general  diffu- 
sion of  knowledge,  are  objects  of  primary  importance  to  the 


1J 


nation.”  Thus  endeavoring  to  impress  upon  the  minds  of  his 
countrymen,  the  important  conviction  that  by  education,  “the 
pre-eminence  of  free  Government  is  secured,  by  all  the  attri- 
butes which  can  win  the  affections  of  its  citizens,  and  command 
the  respect  of  the  world.” 

Mr.  Jefferson,  whose  veneration  for  his  country  was  alone 
equalled  by  his  devotion  to  education,  recommended  “public 
institutions”  of  learning,  as  contributing  not  only  to  the  “im- 
provement of  the  country,”  but  to  its  preservation.  Mr.  Mad- 
ison, whose  wisdom,  whose  simple,  pure  and  elevated  patri- 
otism, has  left  its  impress  upon  the  institutions  of  his  country, 
thus  speaks  of  the  vital  importance  of  national  education: — “A 
well  instructed  people  can  alone  be  permanently  a free  peo- 
ple.” He  impresses  upon  Congress  the  necessity  of  making 
appropriations  for  this  purpose,  “to  strengthen  the  foundations” 
and  “to  adorn  the  structure  of  our  free  and  happy  system  of 
Government.”  A short  time  before  he  retired  from  the  Presi- 
dency, be  declares  that  it  is  the  conviction  of  his  deliberate 
judgment,  that  without  the  general  diffusion  of  knowledge, 
“the  blessings  of  liberty  cannot  be  fully  enjoyed,  or  long  pre- 
served.” Sound  information  should  be  diffused  thi  ough  all 
classes — universal  education  and  universal  suffrage  should  go 
hand  in  hand — in  intelligence  and  virtue,  should  be  the  stabil- 
ity of  the  limits.  Let  the  common  school  be  felt  in  its  most  ex- 
tended influences.  I do  not  mean  by  the  common  ■school,  a 
limited  education  for  the  poor,  making  a distinction  between 
them  and  the  rich  as  such;  in  the  beautiful  language  of  a living 
divine,*  “we  utterly  repudiate  as  unworthy,  not  of  freemen 
only,  but  of  men,  the  narrow  notion  that  there  is  to  be  an  edu- 
cation for  the  poor  as  such.  Has  God  provided  for  the  poor  a 
coarser  earth,  a thinner  air,  a paler  sky'?  Does  not  the  golden 
sun  pour  down  his  golden  flood  as  cheerfully  upon  the  cottage 
as  upon  the  rich  man’s  palace — have  not  the  cotter’s  children 
as  keen  a sense  of  the  verdue,  freshness,  fragrance,  melody  and 
beauty  of  luxuriant  nature,  as  the  pale  sons  of  kings'?  Or  is  it 
that  God  has  stamped  upon  the  mind  the  imprint  of  a*base 
birth,  so  that  the  poor  man’s  child  knows  with  an  inborn  cer- 
tainty that  his  lot  is  to  crawl,  not  to  climb'?  It  is  not  so— God 
has  not  done  it — man  cannot  do  it.  Mind  is  immortal — ;mind 
is  imperial — it  bears  no  mark  of  high  or  low,  or  rich  or  poor— 
it  heeds  r.o  hound  of  time  or  place,  or  rank  or  circumstance — 
It  asks  but  freedom — it  requires  but  light — it  is  heaven-horn 
and  aspires  to  heaven.  Weakness  does  not  enfeeble  it — po- 
verty cannot  repress  it — difficulties  do  but  stimulate  its  vigor. 
The  poor  tallow-chandler’s  son,  who  sits  up  all  night  to  read  a 
book  which  an  apprentice  boy  lends  him,  shall  stand  and  treat 
with  kings — shall  bind  the  lightning  with  a hempen  cord,  and 


Bishop  Duane,  of  New  Jersey. 


12 


bring  it  harmless  from  the  skies.  The  common  school  is  not  as 
inferior,  not  as  a school  for  the  poor  man’s  children — but  as 
the  light  and  the  air  are  common — it  ought  to  be  the  best  school 
—in  all  good  works,  the  beginning  is  one-naif.  Who  does  not 
know  the  value  to  a community  of  a plentiful  supply  of  water, 
and  infinitely  more  than  this  is  the  common  school,  for  it  is  the 
fountain  at  which  the  mind  drinks,  and  is  strengthened  and  re- 
freshed for  its  career  of  usefulness  and  glory.”  But  to  be  ef- 
fective, the  system  of  education  must  not  consist  in  the  culti- 
vation of  intellect  alone;  if  it  is  so  restricted,  you  will  have  the 
beautitul  form,  but  it  will  be  as  cold  and  inanimate  for  good 
as  the  Promethean  creation,  before  fire  was  stolen  from  heaven 
to  animate  it — it  will  be  as  impotent  in  softening  the  obdurate 
nature  of  man,  as  the  pale  moon-beam  to  thaw  rhe  arctic  ice- 
berg, Education  must  be  considered  a training  for  two  worlds 
— a discipline  for  the  heart  as  well  as  the  mind.  “The  fear  of 
the  Lord  is  the  beginning  of  wisdom,  and  the  knowledge  of  the 
holy  is  understanding.”  It  was  intellect  unsanctified  by  mo- 
rals and  religion  that  plunged  France  in  the  awful  vortex  of 
atheism,  and  deluged  her  fair  land  with  a revolutionary  bap- 
tism of  blood,  and  it  is  under  such  auspices  that  unsanctified 
Pnilosophy  attempts  to  wreath  the  evergreen  of  freedom  around 
the  volcanic  crater  of  excited  human  passions,  and  to  erect  the 
Temple  of  Liberty  upon  the  unstable  waves  of  anarchy  and 
lawless  passion. 

“*****  Talents  angel  bright 

If  wanting  worth,  are  shining  instruments 

In  faise  ambition’s  hands,  to  finish  faults 

Illustrious,  and  give  to  infamy  renown.” 

I am  aware  that  there  have  been  men  in  the  highest  walks 
of  science,  masters  in  the  Temple  of  the  Arts — individuals  who 
have  been  hailed  as  the  benefactors  of  their  country — who,  in 
their  speculations,  have  rejected  the  sacred  influences  with 
which  we  would  incest  true  education.  Nevertheless  these 
influences  have  been  around  them,  their  torch  was  lighted  at 
the  altar  before  which  they  refused  to  dow,  and  their  conduct 
was  directed  and  restrained  by  the  moral  influence  of  these 
principles  operating  in  the  communities  in  which  they  lived — 
or  if  they  in  their  lives  transcended  the  limits  thus  imposed 
by  God  and  good  men,  we  may  indeed  admire  even  in  its  per- 
versions the  bold  and  daring  intellect,  like  an  archangel  ruin- 
ed, but  we  are  constrained  to  mourn  over  their  infamy,  and 
their  genius,  which,  rightly  employed,  would  have  command- 
ed the  admiration  of  the  world,  is,  alas,  like  “the  polished 
lance  and  glittering  corslet  of  the  slain  warrior,  or  the  ivy 
wrapping  the  thunder-riven  hemlock,  twining  the  freshness  of 
Jts  verdure  around  rottenness  and  decay.” 

I know  that  there  are  those  who  sneer  at  what  they  call  cant 


13 


and  whining  about  religion — they  speak  of  the  blessings  we 
possess — the  intelligence  we  may  diffuse,  leaving  God  and  his 
law  entirely  out  of  notice.  Trust  not  such  persons — if  they  are 
politicians,  shun  them  as  you  would  the  plague.  Trust  no 
man,  commit  by  your  suffrages  the  destinies  of  your  country  to 
no  man,  who  does  not  feel  the  importance  of  these  truths.  The 
history  of  the  past  is  full  of  melancholy  warning — heed  it  and 
be  wise. 

But,  while  much  is  said  at  this  day  of  the  importance  of  edu- 
cation, it  is  very  .generally  regarded  as  belonging  particularly, 
and  by  a sort  of  prescriptive  right,  to  the  sterner  sex.  In  our 
plans  of  common  school  education,  the  importance  of  cultiva- 
ting the  female  mind,  has  hitherto  been  regarded  as  subordi- 
nate. This  is  a fatal  mistake.  1 hesitate  not  to  say,  that  no 
wide  diffusion  of  intelligence  and  virtue  can  he  expected,  while 
the  female  is  left  in  ignorance,  or  her  mind  but  partially  cul- 
tivated; it  has  been  very  truly  said  that  “woman  is  the  index 
to  a nation’s  character — her  position  in  society,  always  deter- 
mines the  degree  of  civilization,  intelligence  and  morality,  to 
which  a nation  has  arrived.” 

The  influence  of  Christianity  has  very  greatly,  and  very  just- 
ly, changed  the  position  of  the  female  in  social  life,  and  has 
given  to  her  a high  and  holy  mission.  Not  onlv  is  she  the 
companion  of  man  in  all  the  high  and  ennobling  pleasures  of 
life — she  is  more  than  this — his  monitor  and  guide.  In  this 
interesting  sphere  of  action,  her  influence  is  more  powerful  and 
enduring,  than  any  other  that  can  be  brought  to  bear.  It  may 
be  truly  said  that  a man’s  character  is  formed  in  the  nursery, 
beneath  the  unslumbering  vigilance  of  a mother’s  love — the 
Bias  there  given,  the  instructions  there  received,  outlive  the 
waywardness  and  excitements  incident  to  youth,  and  deter- 
mine the  character  and  moral  elevation  of  the  man.  Who  that 
remembers  Mary  the  mother  of  Washington,  in  contrast  with 
Letitia  the  mother  of  Napoleon,  but  must  acknowledge  the 
influence  of  the  mother  in  the  formation  of  character.  Com- 
pare the  character  of  the  pious  Cow  per , with  its  sweet  and 
plaintive  melancholy,  and  the  morbid  sentimentality  of  ihe 
brilliant  and  eratic  Byron,  and  the  influence  and  associations 
of  the  nursery  and  home  will  be  seen.  Let  the  mothers  of  the 
land  be  Cornelias , and  the  sons  will  be  Gracchi. 

If  the  susceptibility  of  the  female  for  high  moral  and  intel- 
lectual culture  was  properly  developed — if  all  the  mothers  of 
the  land  were  rightly  and  soundly  educated — their  care  for  the 
future  happiness  of  their  offspring  would  cause  them  to  lay  for 
them  in  early  life  a broad  foundation  for  the  construction  of 
elevated  character,  in  the  maintenance  of  sound  education,  and 
the  consequent  improvement  and  perfection  of  our  national 
character.  The  educated  mother  will  always  make  great  sacri - 


14 


fees  to  educate  her  children.  This  is  a rule  almost  without  a 
single  exception.  The  present  system  of  female  education  is 
exceedingly  defective — the  great  effort  of  the  hot-bed  systems 
of  fashionable  female  education  is  to  fit  young  ladies  for  socie- 
ty— the  memory  is  taxed  while  the  thinking  faculties  lie  dor- 
mant— a mere  smattering  of  French  and  music,  and  a small 
acquaintance  with  the  conventional  usages  of  society,  derived 
from  a few  fashionable  novels,  is  the  ne  plus  ultra  of  qualifica- 
tion demanded  for  the  parlor  and  fashionable  drawing-room. 
The  immortal  mind  is  left  without  mental  discipline — without 
knowledge  of  the  holy  mission  God  has  committed  to  woman. 
This  system  of  education  causes  the  domestic  d uties,  when  as- 
sumed, to  be  looked  upon  as  merest  drudgeries — as  barriers  to 
the  proper  enjoyment  of  iife — household  affairs  are  confused 
and  neglected — duties  to  children  are  discharged  by  proxy — 
study,  which  was  a task  to  the  girl,  is  intolerable  to  the  mother 
— and  the  mind  committed  to  her  training,  is  left  to  grow  and 
expand  in  its  unpruned  wildness  and  ill  regulated  receptivity , 
to  acquire  the  elements  of  its  own  future  undoing.  This  is  no 
exaggerated  picture — it  is  but  a faithful  outline  of  the  systems 
and  effects  of  fashionable  education,  and  is  but  a few  steps  re- 
moved from  the  general  gloom  of  ignorance,  in  which  the 
minds  of  large  numbers  of  the  sex  is  shrouded. 

This  condition  of  things  calls  loudly  for  correction,  for  it 
cannot  be  doubted  that,  to  a great  extent,  the  true  strength  of 
the  nation  is  to  be  found  in  the  virtue,  the  intelligence,  and 
true  refinement  of  the  female  sex;  if  this  is  neglected,  much  of 
the  benefit  which  would  otherwise  be  secured  by  the  educa- 
tion of  the  opposite  sex  will  be  lost. 

I am  aware  that  much  attention  has  been  given  to  this  sub- 
ject in  East  Tennessee,  especially  in  your  neighboring  city  of 
Knoxville,  in  the  admirable  Institutes,  under  the  direction  of 
accomplished  teachers,  is  sound  mental  training  for  vonr 
young  ladies  to  be  obtained;  but  much  yet  remains  to  be  done, 
before  this  portion  of  your  State  can  be  furnished  with  all  the 
requisite  facilities  in  this  important  enterprize.  The  institu- 
tion now  about  to  arise  under  the  patronage  of  Hawkins  Lodge, 
I.  0.  0.  F.,  commends  itself  to  the  serious  consideration  of  ev- 
ery mind,  and  especially  should  it  receive  the  countenance  and 
support  of  those  whose  local  position  will  enable  them  to  par- 
ticipate more  fully  its  benefits. 

There  is  one  aspect  in  which  this  institution  of  learning  can 
be  viewed,  that  especially  commends  it  to  consideration.  It 
is  a fact,  painful,  but  undeniable,  that  the  facilities  for  educa- 
tion, throughout  this  portion  of  our  country,  have  been  greatly 
interrupted  and  abridged  in  their  healthful  influence  by  the 
bickerings  and  jealousies  of  rival  sectaries.  Religion,  whose 
mission  it  is,  to  elevate  the  whole  man,  sou! , body  and  spirit , 


15 


has  been  rendered  “hideous  in  the  eyes  of  rttcf'n,  by  her  own 
professed  votaries”— instead  of  soothing  and  allaying  the  strifes 
of  men,  and  rebuking  even  the  vicious  but  in  love , those 

professing  to  be  its  disciples  have  divided  communities  and 
strengthened  the  hands  of  error  and  vice,  by  the  wasting  con- 
tagion of  an  ungodly  example. 

This  has  not  been  the  fruit  of  religion — this  is  not  in  conso^ 
nance  with  the  sublime  teachings  of  Jesus  of  Nazareth — but  ra- 
therthe  effect  of  varying  human  opinions  and  divided  views  with 
regard  to  speculative , not  fundamental  truth.  Education  has 
suffered  in  this  way  ; singly  no  one  of  the  sects  could  promote 
the  cause  of  education  very  extensively — union  was  out  of  the 
question,  for  each  was  afraid  of  strengthening  the  hands  of  the 
other.  A common  ground  is  needed — a principle  of  compre- 
hension in  which  no  party  will  be  called  upon  to  surrender  any 
of  their  peculiar  principles,  and  by  which  all  may  be  benefit- 
ted.  Just  such  a plan  is  furnished  by  the  institution  now  be- 
fore us — “The  Odd-Fellows’  Female  Institute.”  The  cha- 
racter of  the  Order,  by  which  this  institution  is  founded  and 
sustained,  gives  assurance  to  those  who  may  patronize  it,  that 
its  peace  shall  never  be  disturbed  by  such  jarring  discords.— 
Odd  Fellowship  must  prove  recreant  to  all  its  solemn  pledges 
— it  must  renounce  its  character,  before  such  can  be  the  case* 
It  stands  aloof  from  all  political  and  religious  disputes — it 
presents  a broad  platform  of  equality  and  union,  upon  which 
all  may  meet,  and  forgetting  the  virulence  of  party  strifes^ 
unite  in  the  maintenance  of  what  all  admit  to  be  fundamental 
and  true. 

An  institution  under  the  patronage  of  such  a society  must  be 
ever  free  from  denominational  bias , while  assurance  is  given 
that  the  great  and  fundamental  truths  of  religion  will  be  in- 
culcated, without  reference  to  the  mere  subjective  differences 
by  which  earnest  religious  minds  are  divided.  It  is  in  such  an 
institution, — it  is  under  the  auspices  of  such  an  Order — that  the 
true  mental  and  moial  character  of  the  young  women  of  East 
Tennessee  will  be  developed.  It  is  thus  that  by  a sound  and 
practical  education,  they  will  be  qualified  for  their  holy  trust, 
as  the  guardians  and  instructors  of  infancy — the  friends  of 
youth — the  companions  of  manhood — the  sweet  solacers  of  de- 
clining age — the  conservers  of  their  country’s  destiny — “Hea- 
ven’s last,  best  gift  to  man.”  Beats  there  a heart  here  to-day, 
that  does  not  feel  an  ardent  interest  in  this  good  work,  and  who 
has  not  determined,  to  the  extent  of  ability,  to  aid  a scheme 
which,  in  its  local  and  national  tendencies,  is  so  great  and  be- 
neficial'? 

But,  I see  written  upon  many  an  upturned  face,  the  enquiry. 
What  is  the  character  of  the  Society  that  promises  to  do  so 
much?  What  is  Odd-Fellowship  ? This  enquiry  is  doubtless 


16 


agitating  tnany  minds  in  this  assembly,  They  wish  to  know 
something  of  a society  which  but  a few  months  since  was  un- 
known to  many  here,  even  by  name,  and  which  to  day  stands 
forth  in  this  community  as  the  dispenser  of  local  and  national 
blessings.  Such  inquiries  as  these  are  pertinent-  We  owe 
explanations  to  society  at  large,  and  society  has  the  undoubt- 
ed right  to  demand  these  explanations  from  us.  In  a nation 
like  ours,  where  the  authority  of  the  Government  is  derived 
from  the  consent  of  the  governed,  and  the  aggregate  of  indi- 
vidual virtue  forms  the  basis  of  public  virtue — ail  are  deeply 
interested  in  every  organization  formed— and  every  principle 
which  is  agitated  among  them — because  ultimately  they  may 
have  a good  or  evil  bearing  upon  themselves  and  through  them 
Upon  the  future  destiny  of  society.  So  far  from  repressing  the 
spirit  of  public  curiosity,  it  is  a duty  growing  out  of  our  alle- 
giance to  our  country  and  to  our  Order,  to  encourage  that  spirit, 
and  to  gratify  its  laudable  demands,  with  “line  upon  line  and 
precept  upon  precept,”  exposition  and  explanation  ; in  so  far 
ns  we  do  this  we  minister  to  that  “eternal  vigilance,”  which 
is  the  price  not  only  of  civil , but  also  of  moral  and  religious 
freedom. 

Odd-Fellowship  is  an  institution  formed  by  good  men  for  the 
advancement  of  the  principles  of  benevolence  and  truth.  The 
foundation  of  the  superstructure  is  laid  in  the  acknowledgment 
of  universal  fraternity — that  man  is  bound  to  sympathise  with, 
to  aid  and  protect  his  brother  man;— upon  this  foundation  is 
erected  a system  of  practical  benevolence,  that  sends  its  influ- 
ence through  all  society;  and  that  this  may  not  degenerate  into 
an  indiscriminate  system  of  alms  giving,  which  converts  the 
earnings  of  honest  industry  into  a reward  for  pauperism  and 
idleness,  it  has  established  certain  checks  and  balances,  by 
which  its  active  goodness  is  restrained  within  proper  limits. 
Its  first  duty  is  to  its  own  household,  but  its  influence  is  felt 
beyond — uniting  good  men,  in  the  practice  of  acknowledged 
duties — requiring  no  surrender  of  religious  or  political  creed 
— leaving  speculation  for  practice — it  has  gone  forth  among  the 
homes  of  men  like  some  missioned  spirit  of  good^  with  its 
words  of  kindness — -its  deeds  of  comfort — wherever  it  has  mo- 
ved it  was  for  the  healing  of  disease — the  alleviation  of  pain 
— the  tear  of  sorrow  has  been  wiped  away,  and  the  face  ot  an- 
guish illumined  with  a smile — “it  has  no  marble  altar — no 
Wreathed  statue,  no  offerings  of  incense,  but  hearts  of  affection 
build  up  its  shrine— the  widow  and  the  orphan  are  its  living 
monuments,  and  gratitude  pours  out  for  it  a free  libation.  Uni- 
ting men  under  the  influence  of  the  social  principle,  Odd-Fel- 
lowship demands  the  practice  of  benevolence  and  charity — 
and  in  order  to  impress  these  duties  upon  the  mind,  and  fur- 
nish incentives  to  action  in  those  moments  of  relaxation  to 


17 


which  all  men  are  subject,  it  has  instituted  solemn  ceremonies, 
ordained  frequent  meetings,  and  formed  a language  of  signs — • 
all  designed  to  produce  a habit  of  benevolence,  and  by  educa- 
ting the  moral  faculties,  promote  the  well-being  of  society.— 
The  principles  emblazoned  upo  i our  banners,  and  inscribed  up- 
on our  altars , are  Friendship,  Love  and  Truth,  and  it  is  the 
constant  and  unvarying  inculcation  of  these  principles,  that 
causes  Odd-Fellowship  to  be  strictly  practical.  We  are  asso- 
ciated to  preserve  no  striking  and  beautiful  traditions — to  teach 
no  original  truth — to  enunciate  no  occult  mysteries.  We  re- 
ceive with  reverence  the  teachings  of  God’s  holy  Word,  which 
tell  us  that  we  are  the  children  of  one  common  Father — breth- 
ren of  one  family*— fellow-travellers  through  the  same  dark 
world  of  sin,  alike  needing  the  sympathy  and  support  of  our 
fellow-men — that  we  are  bound  as  stewards  of  God  to  use 
wisely  the  things  which  have  been  committed  to  us  in  trust, 
for  the  advancement  of  the  general  good.  It  is  true,  that  the 
means  of  our  Society  do  not  enable  us  to  relieve  all  the  wants 
of  all  men,  but  they  do  enable  us  to  mitigate  the  sufferings  of 
many.  The  relief  is,  in  the  first  place,  justly  restricted  to  the 
members  of  the  Order  and  their  families;  but  these  demands 
answered,  relief  is  extended  to  others  as  far  as  we  possess  the 
ability.  The  pecuniary  contributions  of  the  members,  which 
consist  in  small  weekly  sums,  constitute  a fund  for  the  exclu- 
sive purpose  of  relieving  the  sick,  burying  the  dead,  educating 
the  orphan,  and  protecting  and  assisting  the  widow.  In  this 
respect  our  Order  is  a vast  mutual  aid  society , “differing  from 
all  others  in  ihe  perfection  of  its  organization — the  universali- 
ty of  its  extent — and  the  motives  presented  for  action  in  high 
and  benevolent  teachings,  which  lead  from  specific  and  enfor- 
ced duties,  to  the  voluntary  performance  of  the  noblest  deeds 
of  charity.”  While,  therefore,  our  Order,  in  its  organization 
and  development,  is  founded  upon  eternal  principles,  it  only 
gives  direction  to  known  and  admitted  truth,  and  enforces  the 
duties  it  teaches  by  discipline.  It  is  formed  for  action,  and  he 
who  will  not  work,  is  not  permit! ed  to  remain  a drone  in  the 
busy  hive. 

From  this  very  general  view’,  we  may  pass  to  a consideration 
of  some  of  the  specific  benefits  of  the  institution  secured  to  each 
and  every  member,  by  the  stipulations  of  covenant  agreement. 

1.  If  a member  of  the  Order  is  unable  to  attend  to  his  ordi- 
nary avocation,  from  sickness  or  Providential  disability,  he  is 
paid  every  week,  during  the  continuance  of  such  disability,  a 
sum  varying  from  3 to, $5.  He  is  visited  by  the  officers  and 
members  of  his  Lodge,  and  proper  attendenee  furnished  to 
watch  by  his  sick  bed,  and  attend  to  his  wants. 

2.  In  case  of  death,  he  is  decently  buried  at  the  expense  of 
the  Order,  his  remains  are  followed  to  “the  house  appointed 

O 

O 


18 


for  all  the  living,”  and  the  dust  is  smoothed  on  his  grave  by 
the  hand  of  sorrowing  friendship. 

3.  The  duties  of  Odd-Fellowship  end  not  here.  The  chain 
of  earthly  fellowship  may  be  broken,  but  some  of  its  severed 
links  remain,  in  the  persons  of  the  stricken  widow  and  the 
helpless  orphan — Odd-Fellowship  repairs  to  the  desolate  home, 
re-fills  the  cruse  of  oil  and  replenishes  the  empty  barrel;  over 
the  night  of  desolate  widowhood  it  watches  with  sympathizing 
care,  and  comforts  the  stricken-hearted  mother  with  assurance 
that  her  fatherless  children  will  be  protected  and  educated  ! 

Pause  for  one  moment  to  examine  the  strong  argument  fur- 
nished in  favor  of  oui  Order  by  this  view  of  its  character.  The 
young  man  in  business  far  from  home — the  man  of  family,  who 
earns  his  bread  by  the  sweat  of  his  brow — can,  when  in  health, 
easily  spare  four  or  five  dollars  annually,  and  thus  secure  such 
aid  and  attention  during  sickness,  as  could  be  obtained  by  no 
other  pecuniary  expense.  Especially  does  the  man  of  family 
reap  an  advantage  in  a pecuniary  point  of  view,  which  no  other 
investment  of  the  same  amount  of  funds  could  yield.  The  mer- 
chant, the  man  of  business,  visiting  our  northern  or  southern 
cities,  may  be  taken  sick — and  who  that  has  ever  been  sick,  a 
stranger  in  one  of  the  large  hotels,  but  knows  the  neglect  with 
which  persons  under  such  circumstances  are  treated? — they 
may  have  abundant  means  to  procure  the  attention  of  hirelings, 
but  they  cannot  purchase  kindness  and  sympathy.  The  pos- 
session of  an  Odd-Fellow’s  Card  will  secure  all  this;  for  its 
presentation  to  the  Lodge  is  an  assurance  of  fraternal  attention. 
These,  you  may  say,  are  the  common  duties  of  humanity,  ac- 
knowledged by  all  men,  and  needing  no  societies  to  enforce 
them.  1 grant  that  they  are  the  duties  of  common  humanity, 
but  are  they  performed? 

We  have  no  idea  of  the  amount  of  suffering  endured  by  vir- 
tuous poverty,  when  the  supplies  procured  by  industry  are  cut 
off  by  sickness — when  the  strong  man  is  prostrated,  and  lies 
stricken  and  helpless,  knowing  that  loved  ones  are  in  want  — 
when  no  friendly  footstep  crosses  the  threshold  of  the  obscure 
home  to  which  he  hashed  to  conceal  from  a heartless  world  the 
bitterness  of  his  poverty — Oh  ! the  agony  of  the  hot  tears  that 
blister  his  fevered  cheek,  as  he  nightly  kisses  the  parched  lips, 
and  looks  upon  the  famine-pinched  faces  of  his  children,  as 
they  go  supperless  to  tlieir  bed  of  straw.  Who  can  tell  the  an- 
guish of  his  heart,  when  the  wife  of  Ins  bosom  bends  over  him, 
with  her  pale,  earnest  face,  and  as  she  wipes  the  fever-drops 
from  his  brow,  with  the  sublime  energy  of  woman’s  endurance 
whispers  resignation  ! — hope  ! Alas  ! what  has  he  to  hope  for 
his  loved  ones,  if  God  m his  providence  should  call  him  away  ? 
Nothing!  That  wife  will  be  a broken-hearted  widow,  strug- 
gling single-handed  against  poverty,  exposed  to  the  insults  of 


19 


a heartless  world, — those  children  will  be  reared  in  ignorance, 
it  may  be,  for  a life  of  shame — a death  of  disgrace.  But  how 
different  would  be  the  condition  of  such  a person,  if  in  the 
days  of  his  health  and  strength  he  had  become  a member  of 
our  noble  Order — competency  would  have  smiled  around  his 
hearth-stone — sympathizing  friends  would  have  watched  a- 
round  his  sick  bed,  and  he  would  close  his  eyes  in  death  with 
the  sweet  assurance  that  his  family  was  left  in  the  care  of  bro- 
thers whose  constant  duty  it  is  to  “protect  the  widow  and  edu- 
cate the  orphan.” 

I could  give  you  numerous  instances  of  the  advantages  se- 
cured to  individuals  who,  when  they  entered  the  Order,  did  not 
dream  of  ever  needing  its  benefits.  The  advantages  of  this  as- 
sociation  is  further  seen  in  the  fact  that  it  brings  together  men 
of  the  most  discordant  opinions,  and  unites  them  in  the  bonds 
of  brotherly  love,  affording  by  its- frequent  meetings  social  in- 
tercourse, free  from  the  contaminating  influence  of  vice.  It 
promotes  the  morals  of  community,  by  restraining  its  members 
from  all  intemperance  and  other  illegal  practices,  under  penal- 
ty of  expulsion,  and  the  publication  of  their  names  in  connec- 
tion with  the  offence  for  which  discipline  is  executed,  through- 
out the  limits  of  the  Order.  It  is  ealculatad  to  make  men  so- 
cial and  humane,  by  bringing  them  frequently  together  to  de- 
vise means  and  measures  for  the  relief  of  their  distressed  fel- 
low creatures,  thus  breaking  down  the  barriers  erected  by  sect 
and  party,  and  uniting  men  as  citizens  of  one  country,  llthe 
world ” — members  of  one  family,  uthe  human  race.” 

But  there  is  one  point  of  view  in  which  we  may  regard  our 
Order,  which  gives  it  a strong  claim  upon  the  patriot  and  the 
philanthropist:  I mean  its  political  tendencies.  There  are  at 
present  in  our  country  about  200,000  Odd-Fellows,  annually 
expending  a sum  amounting  to  between  3 and  $400,000,  for 
purposes  of  education  and  relief — thus  exerting  a humanizing 
Influence  over  the  angry  passions  and  discordant  dispositions 
of  men,  and  widely  disseminating  that  moral  virtue  which  is 
the  true  cement  of  our  civil  institutions.  Education  we  have 
showm  to  be  one  of  the  chief,  if  not  the  chief  agent  in  securing 
and  preserving  both  civil  and  religious  liberty;  m the  very  na- 
ture ©f  things,  the  influence  of  Odd-Fellowship,  as  a dispenser 
of  education,  will  be  felt  in  those  classes  of  society  which  are 
most  generally  deprived  of  its  blessings,  and  who  can  estimate 
the  moral  force  and  stability  it  will  thus  impart  to  Government, 
by  exalting  the  majesty  of  the  laws,  and  surrounding  the  chair 
of  the  Chief  Magistrate  with  a pure  and  enlightened  constitu- 
ency! The  mind  of  the  nation  is  its  best  treasure,  and  as  the 
cultivation  of  it  is  provided  for,  so  will  the  permanency  of  its 
institutions  and  the  purity  of  its  administration  be  secured. 

I know  that  it  is  the  cant  cry  of  the  demagogue  that  such  so- 


20 


eicties  are  dangerous  to  Government.  This  objection  might 
be  urged  with  some  show  of  reason  in  an  arbitrary  Government, 
known  only  to  the  people  by  its  exactions  and  oppressions:  but 
in  a country  like  ours,  where  every  citizen  is  a sovereign,  and 
the  magistrate  only  reflects  the  will  of  the  people,  by  whose 
free  suffrages  he  has  been  raised  to  office,  and  to  whose  ranks 
he  must  return,  the  objection  is  a denial  of  the  capability  of  a 
virtuous  citizenship  to  uphold  and  maintain  the  Government 
they  have  created.  The  records  of  history  show  that  the  most 
objectionable  forms  of  secret  association  in  the  old  world,  have 
ever  been  leagues  foimed  against  oppression,  and  in  all  their 
political  interferences,  have  ever  done  battle  in  behalf  of  po- 
pular rights.  Much  more  must  an  Order,  the  constitution  of 
which  precludes  the  introduction  of  political  and  religious  dis- 
cussions in  its  Lodges,  and  which,  while  it  cherishes  the  most 
exalted  sentiments  of  patriotism,  inculcates  the  most  elevated 
morals,  be  regarded  as  conservative  in  its  tendency.  We  hesi- 
tate not  to  say,  that  the  heart  that  feels  most  deeply  for  human 
wo  and  suffering,  is  most  susceptible  of  patriotic  devotion — the 
hand  that  has  oftenest  wiped  away  a tear  from  the  eye  of  sor- 
row, will  strike  the  hardest  blows  in  defence  of  its  country’s 
honor — no  blood  that  stains  the  battle-fields  of  Mexico,  shone 
more  brightly  or  flowed  more  freely  than  that  of  ihe  Odd-Fel- 
lows— the  roll  of  Tennessee’s  noble  sons,  who  fell  battling  in 
that  distant  land,  will  illustrate  this  fact — indeed  few  regiments 
mustered  in  those  fatal  fields,  that  did  not  leave  to  moulder  in 
foreign  dust  the  bones  of  some  noble  spirit.  Who  could  tell 
their  number— -braxe  spirits  of  our  slaughtered  brothers,  ye  are 
not  forgotten — “Death  and  glory”  will  keep  their  “eternal 
sabbath”  around  your  distant  tombs,  and  a grateful  country 
will  annually  weave  fresh  garlands  to  your  memory,  as  she 
calls  her  children  to  rejoice  upon  the  high  festival  of  freedom. 

Such,  my  countrymen,  is  the  character  of  the  institution 
which  has  been  growing  up  in  your  midst — which,  in  the  last 
thirty  years,  has  done  more  for  the  relief  of  distress  and  the 
education  of  the  orphan,  than  any  other  human  institution  of 
its  age  and  means,  on  our  continent ! It  is  not  a secret  socie- 
ty, in  any  objectionable  sense  of  that  term — its  principles  are 
published  to  the  world — its  members  are  known  to  be  among 
the  noblest  and  best  of  our  land — its  halls  grace  many  of  our 
towns — the  printed  proceedings  of  its  legislative  and  judicial 
head  are  open  to  the  public — -the  only  secret  things  are  its  ce- 
remonies of  initiation  and  its  language  of  signs. 

I know  it  is  sometimes  urged  that  the  institution  comes  in 
contact  with  the  claims  of  the  church,  and  creates  conflicting 
duties.  This  is  impossible — the  Order  of  Odd-Fellows  is  com- 
posed of  Christians  of  every  denomination— they  all  acknow- 
ledge individually  the  authority  of  the  church,  and  in  the  most 


21 


perfect  obedience  they  unite  to  do  precisely  what  the  teachings 
of  the  church  commands  to  be  done.  Singly  they  could  not 
effect  as  much  good  as  when  united.  Precisely  the  same  ob- 
jection may  with  equal  propriety  be  made  against  all  voluntary 
associations,  societies  for  colonization,  life  insurance,  banking 
and  other  purposes.  The  fact  is,  the  church  makes  no  specific 
provision,  in  any  one  of  its  branches,  for  the  performance  of 
the  duties  in  which  Odd-Fellowship  engages — it  does  not,  in 
any  one  of  the  sects  or  denominations,  make  provision  for  their 
discharge.  Where  has  it  made  provision  for  the  sick  members 
of  its  communion,  furnishing  watchers  by  their  beds  every 
night  for  months,  supplying  them  with  money  to  procure  the 
necessaries  and  often  the  delicacies  of  life?  What  provision 
has  it  made  for  the  support  of  the  widow? — the  education  of  the 
orphan?  What  provision  has  it  made  to  take  care  of  the  sick 
stranger,  and  in  death  to  give  him  decent  burial?  Where  are 
these  provisions? — shew  them  to  us,  and  I hesitate  not  to  say 
every  good  Odd-Fellow  will  at  once  fail  into  his  denomination- 
al ranks,  and  work  in  the  good  cause.  But  no  such  provision 
exists — there  is  no  systematic  plan  in  the  church  enforced  up- 
on its  members  by  discipline.  All  the  conflict  our  Order  can 
have  with  the  church,  is  to  reprove  its  apathy.  I trust  in  God 
it  may  be  made  an  instrument  to  provoke  the  church  to  activi- 
ty, by  shewing  what  a mere  human  society  can  do,  with  “her 
usages  of  old” — her  bonds  of  love — her  deeds  of  self-denial — • 
her  requirements  of  discipline — those  days  when  her  children 
shewed  their  faith  hy  their  works  of  mercy  and  love.  Odd-Fel- 
lowship wields  the  old  means , because  the  church  refuses  to 
use  them.  And  is  this  wrong?  Shall  all  these  deeds  be  left 
undone,  because  a few  fanatics,  Judus-like , will  murmur  at  the 
expenditure,  and  sell  the  precious  ointment  to  increase  their 
own  ungodly  gains?  Is  it  right — is  it  proper — to  feed  the  hun- 
gry, to  clothe  the  naked,  to  visit  the  sick? — is  it  right  to  bury 
the  dead,  protect  the  widow,  and  educate  the  orphan?  Who 
will  say  it  is  wrong  to  do  these  things?  What  is  Odd-Fellow- 
ship, but  associated  action  in  the  performance  of  these  duties? 
Scarcely  a century  has  passed  since  the  spot  upon  which  we 
are  assembled  was  covered  by  the  dense  forests  of  a virgin  land; 
no  sound  broke  the  stillness  of  the  solitude,  but  the  “wolf’s 
long  howl,”  or  the  war-whoop  of  the  prowling  savage.  On  the 
bosom  of  the  bright  streams  that  roll  on  to  mingle  with  the  fa- 
ther of  waters,  no  sign  of  life  was  seen,  but  the  Indian  paddling 
his  bark  canoe.  What  has  caused  the  change  that  has  come 
over  this  scene? — what  has  converted  the  howling  wilderness 
into  a home  for  talent  and  refinement — broken  up  the  lair  of 
the  red  man,  and  enthroned  hospitality  where  all  was  wildness 
and  barbarism?  What  has  waked  up  the  song  of  the  laborer — 
the  click  of  the  artizan’s  hammer — the  hum  of  the  thrifty  mul- 


titutfe — the  creations  of  taste  and  refinement]  Associated  ac- 
tion! the  banded  power  of  the  early  settlers — the  same  kind  of 
power  that  forty  centuries  ago  upheaved  the  giant  Pyramids 
that  survive  the  ruins  of  desolation,  as  the  hoary  connection 
between  the  past  and  the  present,  “like  monuments  over  un- 
known graves,  heralding  the  glory,  though  their  worn  inscrip- 
tions tell  not  the  names  of  those  who  sleep  at  their  bases.” 
From  the  active  virtue  and  sweet  charities  of  the  domestic 
circle,  to  the  integrity  and  stability  of  the  mightiest  nation  up- 
on earth,  this  principle  of  associated  action  is  seen  at  work.  It 
is  a principle  of  power  and  of  might — direct  it  you  may,  de- 
stroy it  you  cannot.  Like  steam,  if  confined  in  iron  bonds,  it 
will  burst  its  fetters  and  scatter  death  and  destruction  around; 
and  yet,  like  the  well-broke  horse,  it  may  be  harnessed  and 
driven  in  safety.  Associate  men  will,  if  their  association  be 
not  turned  to  the  melioration  of  human  woe — to  plans  for  the 
moral  and  social  elevation  of  mankind — it  will  be  seized  upon 
by  the  factious  and  discontented,  the  licentious  and  the  vile, 
as  a potent  engine  to  overturn  the  social  and  religious  institu- 
tions which  now  serve  to  check  their  excesses.  Will  men, 
under  the  influence  of  the  social  principle,  seek  the  bar-room, 
the  gaming  house?  Give  them  some  other  attractive  place  of 
assembly,  where  virtuous  thoughts  and  moral  habits,  will  be- 
come chosen  themes,  and  preferred  practices.  Will  they  unite 
in  secret  clubs,  to  agitate  treason  with  the  bitter  spirit  of  the 
Jacobin,  and  seek  to  unsettle  government  and  society  with 
their  vain  discontents  and  utopian  schemes  of  social  equality] 
Unite  them  by  the  charm  of  secrecy,  to  perform  works  of  mer- 
cy and  benevolence.  God  has  sanctioned  this  principle  of 
association  in  the  institution  of  his  holy  Church.  Elevated 
above  the  discords  of  earth,  uninfluenced  by  the  changeful 
policy  of  time,  it  is  to  constitute  one  vast  association  designed 
to  concentrate  the  action  of  its  myriad  members  into  the  effec- 
tive unity  ot  one  catholic  body.  When  this  perfection  is 
attained,  minor  associations  will  not  be  needed. 

But  it  is  objected  that  the  institution  is  an  expensive  one — 
the  gaudy  regalia,  the  splendid  halls,  processions  and  music. 
The  same  objection  may  be  made  to  all  societies.  The  regalia 
is  but  the  symbol  of  the  duties  that  are  inculcated,  and  tends 
to  remind  its  wearer  of  his  profession  of  “Friendship,  Love  &, 
Truth,”  and  is  toothers  a means  of  designating  him  from  the 
multitude  as  a member  of  our  Society,  as  the  military  costume 
designates  the  soldier  from  the  civilian.  These  things  may  be 
carried  to  excess,  and  doubtless  sometimes  are,  not  because  it 
is  necessary , but  to  gratify  the  taste  of  individuals.  We  see  si- 
milar extravagances  in  other  things,  and  yet  they  pass  uncen- 
sured: As,  for  instance,  when  costly  churches  are  erected — pews 
splendidly  cushioned — some  50  or  $100  paid  for  a single  Bible, 


23 


when  one  at  5 or  $10  would  have  answered  as  well — large 
sums  expended  for  Sabbath  School  banners,  badges  and  pro- 
cessions— when  individuals  appropriate  to  buy  useless  furni- 
ture to  decorate  their  houses  sums  of  money  which  might  and 
should  be  given  to  God’s  poor — not  unfrequently  is  it  the  case 
that  the  useless  apparel  and  golden  ornaments  of  the  objector 
would  buy  an  Odd-Fellow’s  regalia  twice  over. 

Another  and  'protean  objection  is,  that  Odd-Fellowship  takes 
persons  from  home  at  night.  It  does,  generally,  once  a week. 
We  know  that  men  generally  will  associate,  will  meet  together 
at  night,  to  discuss  the  events  of  the  day;  and  often  they  meet 
in  places  and  under  circumstances  calculated  to  do  them  no 
good.  I ask,  therefore,  the  wife — mother — sister — would  you 
not  much  prefer  that  your  husband — son — brother — should  be 
at  an  Odd-Fellow’s  Lodge,  where  virtue  is  inculcated,  and  be- 
nevolence and  truth  practiced,  than  at  the  bar-room  of  a drink- 
ing-house, a disorderly  political  meeting,  or  perhaps  some 
worse  place?  You  have  assurance  that  when  at  a Lodge, they 
are  at  least  in  a place  secure  from  the  contaminating  influence 
of  vice.  If  you  object  to  their  visits  to  the  Temple  of  Friend- 
ship, and  especially  if  that  objection  lead  on  your  parts  to  un- 
kind treatment,  cold  and  averted  looks  when  they  return  home, 
you  insult  and  outrage  their  spirit  of  independence,  lose  your 
influence  over  the  mind,  and  run  the  risk  of  driving  them  to 
extremes  of  which  otherwise  they  never  would  have  dreamed. 
Violent  opposition  to  things  of  this  kind  on  the  pari  of  a wife, 
sinks  the  husband  in  the  estimation  of  community,  and  does 
him  serious  injury.  It  causes  him  to  be  looked  upon  as  the 
slave  of  his  wife’s  whims.  No  man  should  enter  upon  a con- 
nection of. this  kind  without  consulting  his  wife — if  she  have 
reasonable  objections,  endeavor  to  remove  them;  but  after  the 
step  is  taken,  no  true  ivoman  will  ever,  by  an  imperious  and 
unreasonable  opposition,  disgrace  herself &.  injure  her  husband. 

Such,  my  brethren,  is  a brief  and  imperfect  view  of  the  no- 
ble Order  that  has  grown  up  in  your  town  to  illustrate  the  hos- 
pitality and  patriotism  of  East  Tennessee.  That  there  will  be1 
opposition,  is  to  be  expected;  for  what  that  is  lovely  or  of  good 
report,  has  ever  escaped  the  sneer  and  the  scowl  of  the  gloomy 
Pharisee,  who,  while  he  tyths  anise,  mint  and  cumin,  neglects 
the  weightier  matters  of  the  law,  making  it  void  through  his 
traditions.  But  our  principles  may  be  tried  by  their  fruits; 
and  who  can  rise  up  and  say  these  fruits  are  evil,  or  that  asso- 
ciated action , by  which  all  the  achievements  of  the  age  has 
been  wrought,  is  'wrong?  Like  “the  still  small  voice”  upon 
the  ear  of  the  Prophet,  when  the  wind,  and  the  fire,  and  the 
earthquake  had  passed,  Odd-Fellowship,  the  noiseless  spirit 
of  benevolence  and  love,  has  trained  its  children  to  follow  in 
the  path  of  desolation  and  affliction,  whispering  peace,  and 


u 


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binding  in  the  golden  bonds  of  Friendship,  Love  and  Truth, 
the  sheaves  left  standing  in  the  fields  over  which  death  and 
sorrow,  the  great  reapers,  have  passed. 

Look  over  the  field  of  our  appropriate  labor  for  the  evidence 
of  these  works.  See  yon  stricken  widow,  bowed  down  and 
sorrowful;  the  hope  of  her  heart  is  quenched,  and  she  mourns 
like  the  mateless  dove.  But  there  is  a change — an  arm  of  affec- 
tion is  cast  around  her — a hand  of  love  has  wiped  away  her 
tears.  That  arm  was  our  Order’s  arm — that  hand  an  Odd-Fel- 
low’s. See  yon  orphan,  with  no  earthly  parent  to  watch  over 
him — no  mother  to  caress  and  wipe  away  his  burning  tears— 
no  shelter  for  his  defenceless  head.  Look!  An  arm  is  cast 
around  him — he  is  sheltered  and  cared  for — his  darkness  is 
gone — his  mind  and  his  heart  are  cultivated,  and  his  glisten- 
ing eye  tells  of  gratitude  and  love.  The  spirit  of  Odd-Fellow- 
ship has  been  there.  “Go  to  the  spot  where  the  sunbeams  of 
summei  rest  in  their  secret  and  solemn  beauty  upon  the  green 
and  grassy  grave,  there  lies  one  who  was  a stranger,  but  whom 
many  followed  to  ‘his  marble  sleep.’  The  evergreen  was  de- 
posited,the  silent  tear  fell  like  dew,  the  clods  ofthe  valley  were 
thrown  sorrowfully  above  him,  the  verdant  turf  was  laid  lightly 
to  mark  the  spot,  and  they  that  turned  away  in  that  funeral  train 
were  Odd-Fellows.”  The  true  Odd  Fellow,  he  is  out  in  “the 
field  gathering  the  ready  harvest” — in  “the  workshop,  laying 
his  strong  hand  to  the  anvil,  the  loom,  and  the  forge,’’'  in  the 
counting-house,  employed  in  the  pursuits  of  professional  labor. 
He  is  at  home,  fulfilling  the  duties  of  parent,  husband;  gladden- 
ing the  hearth  and  the  board,  by  the  virtues  of  the  social  spirit. 
“He  is  by  the  bed  of  sickness,  wiping  the  moist  brow,  and  cool- 
ing the  parched  lip — he  is  in  sorrowful  places,  ministering  to 
poverty,  comforting  affliction,  and  relieving  distress.”  He  is 
upon  the  field  of  his  country’s  fame  and  glory,  where  rank 
after  rank  goes  down  in  “the  shock  of  bright  blades,”  and  be- 
fore “the  vollying  death-shot,”  with  dauntless  heart  and  eagle 
eye,  battling  for  freedom.  He  is  here  to-day,  building  monu- 
ments to  illustrate  his  country's  glory,  laying  up  a munition  of 
rocks  for  its  defence.  Brethren,  go  on — unfurl  the  white  ban- 
ner of  your  Order — give  it  proudly  to  the  breeze — let  its  tri- 
umphant folds  intertwine,  and  become  blended  with  the  stars 
and  stripes  of  the  freeman’s  hope  and  home;  till  oppression 
breaks  his  sceptre,  war  lies  crushed  on  his  harness — “till  man 
is  bound  in  brotherhood  to  man — till  vearsare  changedtosmiles, 
and  groans  to  benedictions” — then  upon  each  return  of  this 
ugreat  and  g’orious  day,"  a regenerated  race  will  hail  with 
joy  that  flag  of  glory,  and  sing 

“Triumphant  float  that  standard  sheet, 

Where  breathes  the  foe  but  falls  before  it' 

With  freedom’s  soil  beneath  our  feet. 

And  freedom’s  banner  streaming  o’er  us." 


